Menopause is clinically diagnosed as a condition when a woman has not menstruated for one year. During the menopausal transition period, there is an emergence of various lipid metabolic disorders due to hormonal changes, such as decreased levels of estrogens and increased levels of circulating androgens; these may lead to the development of metabolic syndromes including cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism affects the body fat mass, fat-free mass, fatty acid metabolism, and various aspects of energy metabolism, such as basal metabolic ratio, adiposity, and obesity. Moreover, menopause is also associated with alterations in the levels of various lipids circulating in the blood, such as lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and triacylglycerol (TG). Alterations in lipid metabolism and excessive adipose tissue play a key role in the synthesis of excess fatty acids, adipocytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species, which cause lipid peroxidation and result in the development of insulin resistance, abdominal adiposity, and dyslipidemia. This review discusses dietary recommendations and beneficial compounds, such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, phytochemicals—and their food sources—to aid the management of abnormal lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/1/202/pdf

Menopause-Associated Lipid Metabolic Disorders and Foods Beneficial for Postmenopausal Women.

Flammulina velutipes (enoki, velvet shank, golden needle mushroom or winter mushroom), one of the main edible mushrooms on the market, has long been recognised for its nutritional value and delicious taste. In recent decades, research has expanded beyond detailing its nutritional composition and delved into the biological activities and potential health benefits of its constituents. Many bioactive constituents from a range of families have been isolated from different parts of the mushroom, including carbohydrates, protein, lipids, glycoproteins, phenols and sesquiterpenes. These compounds have been demonstrated to exhibit various biological activities, such as antitumour and anticancer activities, anti-atherosclerotic and thrombosis inhibition activity, antihypertensive and cholesterol lowering effects, anti-aging and antioxidant properties, ability to aid with restoring memory and overcoming learning deficits, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-bacterial, ribosome inactivation and melanosis inhibition. This review aims to consolidate the information concerning the phytochemistry and biological activities of various compounds isolated from Flammulina velutipes to demonstrate that this mushroom is not only a great source of nutrients but also possesses tremendous potential in pharmaceutical drug development.

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Golden needle mushroom: A culinary medicine with evidenced-based biological activities and health promoting properties

War and poverty are ‘extraordinary conditions created by human intervention’ and ‘preventable public health problems.’ War and poverty have many negative effects on human health, especially women’s health. Health problems arising due to war and poverty are being observed as sexual abuse and rape, all kinds of violence and subsequent gynecologic and obstetrics problems with physiological and psychological courses, and pregnancies as the result of undesired but forced or obliged marriages and even rapes. Certainly, unjust treatment such as being unable to gain footing on the land it is lived (asylum seeker, refugee, etc.) and being deprived of social security, citizenship rights and human rights brings about the deprivation of access to health services and of provision of service intended for gynecology and obstetrics. The purpose of this article is to address effects of war and poverty on the health of reproduction of women and to offer scientific contribution and solutions.

/pdf/women-on-the-other-side-of-war-and-poverty-its-effect-on-the-pxhso50fq3.pdf

Women on the Other Side of War and Poverty: Its Effect on the Health of Reproduction

Background Olive tree (Olea europaea, Oleaceae) leaves have been widely used in traditional herbal medicine to prevent and treat various diseases especially in Mediterranean countries. They contain several potentially bioactive compounds that may have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. Summary The literature has recently been attempting to define the relationship between olive leaf (Olea europaea L. folium) polyphenols and a number of health problems. Oleuropein, the basic phenolic compound of olive leaf and its extract, is responsible for the characteristic bitter taste and unique aroma of olive fruits. Furthermore, it is shown that oleuropein and its hydrolyzed products have many beneficial effects on human health because of its antioxidant characters. A number of studies report that olive leaf has potentially positive effects on the parameters related to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases by various mechanisms. Besides, toxicity studies suggest that olive leaf is generally safe even at high doses. Key messages: Although current results obtained until today seem promising, the studies in this subject are usually on cell culture and animal trials. Moreover, mostly the extract forms of olive leaves are used in the studies. More randomized controlled human clinical trials with extensive toxicity studies are needed to evaluate potential health effects and safety.

/pdf/olive-leaf-olea-europaea-l-folium-potential-effects-on-4vuehri1v8.pdf

Olive Leaf (Olea europaea L. folium): Potential Effects on Glycemia and Lipidemia

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with deposition of excessive cholesterol in the arterial intima. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a nuclear receptor that can activate or inhibit the expression of many target genes by forming a heterodimer complex with the retinoid X receptor. Activation of PPARα plays an important role in the metabolism of multiple lipids, including high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, phospholipid, bile acids, and fatty acids. Increased PPARα activity also mitigates atherosclerosis by blocking macrophage foam cell formation, vascular inflammation, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, plaque instability, and thrombogenicity. Clinical use of synthetic PPARα agonist fibrate improved dyslipidemia and attenuated atherosclerosis-related disease risk. This review summarizes PPARα in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis, and also highlights its potential therapeutic benefits.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α in Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis.

We hypothesized that olive leaf extract might alleviate dyslipidemia resulting from estrogen deficiency. Serum lipid profile and mRNA expression of the related genes in the liver and adipose tissue were analyzed after providing olive leaf extract (200 or 400 mg/kg body weight; n=7 for each group) to ovariectomized rats for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks' administration, the rats in the olive leaf extract-administered groups showed significantly lower levels of serum triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol compared with the rats in the control group, whereas the administration of olive leaf extract did not significantly change the elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In addition, administration of high dose of olive leaf extract significantly decreased the liver triglyceride and increased serum estradiol levels. mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR α) and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) were not affected by ovariectomy, however, admin...

Olive Leaf Extract Elevates Hepatic PPAR α mRNA Expression and Improves Serum Lipid Profiles in Ovariectomized Rats.

We evaluated the quality characteristics and antioxidative activities of cookies containing different types of egg yolk (LEY, Liquid Egg Yolk; FEY, Fresh Egg Yolk) and percentages of blueberry powder (5, 10, and 15%) As the amount of blueberry powder increased, the levels of antioxidants based on ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities increased in general Within the 15% group, contents of polyphenols and flavonoids were higher in the FEY group, whereas content of anthocyanins was higher in the LEY group Measurement of ABTS radical scavenging activity showed that the FEY group had a higher value within the 10% group, whereas the LEY group scored higher within the 15% group Comparison of sensory properties showed no significant difference between the two egg yolk types If commercialized, manufacturing cookies with FEY or LEY will not make a significant difference Regardless, 15% blueberry powder would be the most appropriate, as it scored the highest in terms of antioxidant activity and sensory characteristics

http://jkfn.kfn.or.kr/archive/paper_file_download.kin?no=7358

Comparison of Quality Characteristics and Antioxidative Activities of Cookies Containing Blueberry Powder and Different Types of Egg Yolk

Effects of Fermented Soybean Paste Chungkukjang on the Immunoreactivity in Ovariectomized Mice

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm.), king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngil), and winter mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) are typical edible mushrooms in many Asian countries. Th...

Effects of edible mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm., Pleurotus eryngil, Flammulina velutipes) extracts on immune cell activation in mice (830.17)

There have not been enough studies regarding estrogen deficiency and lipid metabolism. Even though many postmenopausal women gain excess adipose tissues, the actual mechanism has not been yet fully...

Leena Yoon

Papers

Olive Leaf Extract Elevates Hepatic PPAR α mRNA Expression and Improves Serum Lipid Profiles in Ovariectomized Rats.

Comparison of Quality Characteristics and Antioxidative Activities of Cookies Containing Blueberry Powder and Different Types of Egg Yolk

Effects of Fermented Soybean Paste Chungkukjang on the Immunoreactivity in Ovariectomized Mice

Effects of edible mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm., Pleurotus eryngil, Flammulina velutipes) extracts on immune cell activation in mice (830.17)

Effect of olive leaf extract on the gene expression for lipid metabolism in ovariectomized rats (814.6)